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Dominican Republic
- Caribbean.
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The Dominican Republic shares with
Haiti the island of Hispaniola, the second largest island in the
Caribbean after Cuba. Once
the adopted land of the Tainos (Arawaks) and the Caribs, this
island was "discovered" by Christopher Columbus and
became home to the first European colony in the New World in 1492.
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Known above all for the splendor of its white-sand beaches, the
Dominican Republic is a country of tremendous diversity. The
geography is a fascinating kaleidoscope, from the tropical
rainforest to the desert-like expanses of the Southwest, from
farming fields as far as the eye can see to the highest summit of
the Caribbean, Pico Duarte, from the endless fields of sugar cane
to verdant banana groves. The variety and spectacular beauty of
its countryside is certainly one of its greatest riches.
But it is not the only one, for people also visit the Dominican
Republic for the many remnants of its colonial past, of which the
old area of Santo Domingo is one of the most shining examples, for
its friendly hospitality and for the dynamic Caribbean culture and
people.
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With an area of 48,442 square
kilometres, the Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two thirds
of the island of Hispaniola. When crossing the country, it is hard
not to be seduced by the astonishing diversity of the countryside.
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Five mountainous massifs rise from
the Dominican territory. The most impressive is the Cordillera
Centrale at the heart of which stands Pico Duarte, which with an
altitude of 3,175 metres is the highest summit in the Caribbean.
Southwest of and extending from this range are two small mountain
chains, called "Neiba" and "Baoruco". To the
north, the whole Atlantic coast is isolated from the rest of the
country by the Cordillera Septentrionale, which runs from Monte
Cristi to San Francisco de Macoris. Finally, spanning the Samaná
peninsula on the eastern part of the island, is the Cordillera...
Bon Voyage!
Find the latest selected sites listed on
the Dominican
Republic
category
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> Chronicles
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